MOUNT CARMEL - Members of the Mount Carmel Area School Board said they had to make some tough decisions, but a 2011-2012 budget is in place with a price of furloughs and program cuts.
At its meeting Wednesday night, the board approved a $16,671,332.41 budget for the coming fiscal year. The amount is approximately $1 million less than its preliminary budget, which passed two months ago.
"We have struggled with this for several weeks," board president Rose Marquardt said after the meeting. "I have to applaud the board members that made the tough decisions that we needed to make."
The budget was approved by a 7-0 vote with Marquardt, Charles Mannello, Joe D'Andrea, Nick Goretski, Dr. Raymond Kraynak, Donna James and Judy McCollum voting for the spending plan. Directors Michael Rovito and Robert Muldowney were absent.
The budget does not require tax increase for residents, something the board made a priority.
Without additional tax revenue, the board had to make deep cuts, including the elimination of district's Pre-K program, the assistant athletic director position and the dance team; the furlough of six teachers and 10 aides, and the discontinuation of all field trips. Stipends of all club advisors were cut in half.
A resident asked about the future of the district swimming pool, noting it is the only activity in which handicapped children can participate fully.
The board said that the future of the pool is still being debated.
"We understand that no one wants anything taken away, and that this school is the center of a community that doesn't have too much," D'Andrea said. "We are doing everything in our power to remember that, but by the same token, we have to put the education of the children first."
Farewell, Cheryl
The end of the meeting proved emotional when the board approved by unanimous vote the resignation of Superintendent Cheryl Latorre.
Latorre, a 30-year employee of the district, will step down July 29 to become the new superintendent of the Danville Area School District, where she was hired June 14.
"We thank Mrs. Latorre for all of her work in the district. We have watched her come up from a kindergarten teacher in 1981 to where she is today," Marquardt said. We've read in the papers on how the district has gotten nothing but praise from everyone because of her leadership and the team she has assembled."
Choking up, Latorre praised Mount Carmel Area and reminisced about her time there.
"I have been truly blessed," she said through tears. "I thank this board, school staff, my secretaries here and everyone for all their help in making this district great."
The board will advertise for a new superintendent, but gave no timetable as to when one would be hired.